CIS Hoops.ca

Much thanks to Wayne Thomas from the Dinos coaching staff for this update on Calgary including a full breakdown of their roster.

Long Pre-Season Begins After a brief spark of excitement facing NCAA competition last weekend, the Dinos get down to the less glorious business of pre-season preparation, with no meaningful action scheduled until the Waterloo (Ont.) Tournament on October 12-14. With over a month of practice days ahead, players will be challenged to keep their eyes on long term goals, while competing for roster position with teammates. The full roster is displayed below -


University of Calgary Dinos Basketball 2007-'08
# Name Position Height Weight Year Faculty Hometown Province Last Team

Dustin Reding GUARD 6'7" 215lbs 2 Social Sciences Calgary AB Bowness HS
3 Josh Lovestone FWD 6'5" 210lbs 3 Social Sciences Salmon Arm BC SAIT (Salmon Arm HS)
4 Joel Bancroft GUARD 6'1" 185lbs 3 Communications Airdrie AB Red Deer College (Bert Church HS)
5 Jeff Price GUARD 6'1" 185lbs 3 Social Sciences Calgary AB Mt. Royal College (Lord Beaverbrook HS)
12 Andrew Champagnie GUARD 6'1" 180lbs 1 Open Studies Edmonton AB Ross Sheppard HS
13 Jeremy Odland GUARD 6'4" 210lbs 5 Communications Calgary AB Mt. Royal College (Lord Beaverbrook HS)
14 Brennen Fule GUARD 6'2" 185lbs 1 Communications Strathmore AB Strathmore HS
15 Henry Bekkering FWD 6'6" 235lbs 3 Social Sciences Taber AB Eastern Washington Univ. (W.R. Myers HS)
20 Logan Armstrong GUARD 6'5" 190lbs 1 Kinesiology Bigstone AB Youngstown HS
22 Cody Darrah GUARD 6'4" 197lbs 5 Science Edmonton AB Univ. of Alberta (Strathcona HS)
24 Tyler Fidler GUARD 6'9" 200lbs 1 Communications Calgary AB Western Canada HS
31 Robbie Sihota FWD 6'6" 225lbs 3 Social Sciences Calgary AB Lester B. Pearson HS
33 Ross Bekkering FWD 6'8" 225lbs 3 Haskayne Business Taber AB W.R. Myers HS
40 Joe Schow FWD 6'9" 230lbs 3 Humanities Medicine Hat AB Simon Fraser Univ. (Magrath HS)
42 Chris Unsworth FWD 6'8" 230lbs 2 Haskayne Business Maple Creek SK Medicine Hat HS

The team showed promise in their 3 game set with Creighton and Weber State, and the task ahead for Coaches Dan Vanhooren and Matt Skinn will be to develop a squad with a commitment to defense, the ability to take care of the basketball, and to rebound relentlessly. The recruiting additions for this season have added defensive ability, and the rebounding should be stellar with the depth up front. Avoiding turnovers while still playing an upbeat offense is always a challenge, but Jeff Price and Tyler Fidler both have the ability to see the floor and deliver the ball where it needs to go. Andrew Champagnie looked a little nervous at times against the pressure from Creighton, but he has the quickness and desire to lead the team at the point. Cody Darrah, who has stepped in at the point in the past, had a good shooting tournament, and he looks ready to be the 'go-to' shooting guard. Fidler has the confidence of the coaches to pull the trigger from long range as well, and Brennen Fule should be ready for more floor time with a few weeks of practice behind him. Competition is fierce at the forward spots with Henry and Ross Bekkering grabbing the lion's share of the minutes usually accompanied by the offensive threat of Robbie Sihota. This leaves Joe Schow, Chris Unsworth, and newcomer Josh Lovestone working hard to carve out a role for themselves on the travel roster. As veteran CIS watchers are aware, however, the long season usually takes it's toll on teams injury - wise, so anyone on this roster should be prepared to step up as the season starts. A 16th roster spot was to be filled by 1st year Bishop O'Byrne guard Jordan Flagel, but his talents are to be more in evidence as the starting quarterback for the Football Dinos.